What is Common Cold

The common cold, also known as acute coryza, is an inflammation of the upper respiratory tract caused by infection with virus. It is occurs more often than all other diseases. A person suffers from this disease four times in a year on an average. A cold usually lasts from five to ten days. Patient feels miserable for the first four days.

Symptoms

The first sign of a cold are a feeling of soreness of the throat and congestion of the nasal passage. Although the disease normally begins in the throat and nose, it disturb all parts of the body. Its usually symptoms are a sneezing, running nose, headache, a rise in temperature, chille, sore throat, pains and aches in the body and loss of appetite. The skin around the nostrils may become sore.

Causes

The common cold results from exposure to the virus in the body. Its intensity will, however, depend upon the state of health of the person and environmental factors. Depression, Lowered vitality, allergic disorders of the nose and throat, lack of sleep, chilling of the body, fatigue and factors such as sudden changes in temperature, dust and other irritating inhalations are important causes contributing to the development of a cold. The real cause of a cold, however, is the toxic condition of the body brought about by wrong food habits such as an excessive intake of starch, carbohydrates, proteins and other acid-forming foods. A cold, is therefore, nature’s simplest way of existing toxic waste from the human system. The duration of the cold will depend on the amount of poisons substances accumulated in the body and the rapidity with which they are expelled and out from the body.

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Dietetic treatment

To treat a cold by means of customary suppressive drugs like aspirin, codeine, etc., will only pave the way for future trouble of a more serious nature. For, such a treatment puts a sudden stop to the eliminative process then taking place and forces the toxic matter back into the tissues again. Moreover, any medicine have no effect on the duration of the cold. It has been aptly said that a cold can be cured in a week by taking medicines; otherwise it will subside in seven days.

The only real treatment for cold is a proper diet. The best way to begin the treatment is to put the patient on a fast for three days. Nothing should be taken during this period except hot water and honey and warm water mixed with lemon juice or fruit juice. A liquid diet of fruit juice in large amounts is necessary to neutralize the acid condition of the blood and hot drinks soothes the entire respiratory tract. Pineapple juice in particular is highly beneficial. A warm water enema should be used daily to cleanse the bowels during this period.

The short juice fast may be followed by an exclusive fresh fruit diet for five days. In this regimen; the patient should have three meals a day of fresh, juicy fruits such as apples, pears, grapes, grapefruits, oranges, pineapples, peaches, melons r any other juicy fruit in season. Bananas, tinned fruits or dried or stewed should not be taken. No other foodstuff should be added to the diet as otherwise the whole value of the treatment will be lost.

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Vitamin – C Products

After the exclusive fruit diet, the patient may gradually embark upon a well-balanced diet of three basic food groups, namely seeds, nuts and grains, vegetables and fruits. It is advisable to avoid, meat, fish, eggs, cheese and starchy foods for few days.
The patient should strengthen the system as a whole by taking a diet which should supply all the vitamins and minerals the body needs. Important Vitamin C, however heads the list of these nutrients. It protects the person who have cold from infection and acts as a harmless antibiotic. It is found in citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, sprouted Bengal fram and green gram.

Vitamin – C

The regular use of vitamin C in the optimum daily amount will prevent the common cold and if a cold has already appeared, large doses of this vitamin will relieve the symptoms and shorten its duration. Use one to two grams or 1000 mg to 2000 mg per day is approximately the optimum amount of this vitamin. Swallow one or two 500 mg. tablets of vitamin C at the appearance of first sign of the cold and continue the treatment by taking an additional tablet every three hour.

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Garlic oil combined with onion juice, diluted with water and drunk several times a day, has been found, in several studies to be extremely effective in the treatment of common cold. steam inhalation will help relieve the congestion of the nasal tissues. Gargling with hot water mixed with salt is beneficial for a sore throat. Cold chest packs should be applied three or five times a day as they will relieve congestion of lungs and help in eliminating the accumulated mucus in the lungs.

Other useful measures in the treatment of common cold are fresh air, a mild sunbath and deep breathing, sound sleep, brisk walks, adjustment of one’s clothes and habits of the requirements of the season, so as to nullify the effect of weather fluctuations.

Home remedies

Lime, garlic soup, ginger, lady’s fingers, turmeric and vitamin C.

Avoid

Tea, coffee, sugar, white flour and products made from them, refined foods, fried foods, flesh foods, condiments, pickles, alcohol and smolling.

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Important Note :-
 
“The information provide in this website is for only knowledge purpose, not for treatment of any disease. After read this article please contact and confirm by our doctor”.

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